Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

The America’s Premier Expert’s event started with a private party in a suite poolside at the Roosevelt. Apparently this is where the Hollywood Celeb’s come to hang out from time to time and they like to rent a suite to chill out.

As we arrived a shoot for a tv show or magazine was just wrapping up so we had to navigate some equipment to get to the suite. The party began and we all got chance to get to know each other and to share our thoughts about the next 48 hours that were to unwind.

The following morning we started nice and early… 7.30am and we had a long session of media coaching with Jess Todtfeld (Media Training Worldwide) who relayed some of the in’s and out’s of dealing with the media and how to look good on camera. It was most revealing and all of us learned a great deal… particularly how make up can improve your TV look!

After that we got to tour Warner Brother’s studios and to see some of the sound stages, see some of the props, and to actually sit on the Friend’s couch! (No big deal to me as I never watched the show…but for some in our party it was the highlight!) Oh…and we got to see some actor that excited the girls in the party but I hadn’t a clue who he was and still don’t as I write this.

It was early to bed that night as I had an 8.20am interview time and I got up feeling fresh and ready to go…only to get to the studio and find out we were running an hour behind. No big deal really so I hung around until it was time for the interview.

At around 9.30am I was called on stage and my interview about vacation homes started. It seemed to go well and everyone complemented me afterwards but we’ll just have to wait and see how it works out when it’s aired in the not too distant future.

So with that done, I had an hour or so before a very special person arrived for his interview. This was a guy who helped to change my life when I read his book “The Emyth Revisited” and I was looking forward to watching him being interviewed and to meet with him over lunch afterward.

Michael Gerber duly arrived and I was somewhat amazed to see him in an all white suit. We had been told that wearing white wasn’t a good color for TV so I enjoyed watching Michael stand out…and of course, his interview went brilliantly.

After his interview I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him and I have to say he is a perfect gentleman and an extremely nice man. Sometimes I’ve met people who have helped shape the world I live in and I have been nothing but disappointed but Michael was everything and more than I expected him to be.

So with the TV work done, it was time to unwind. I decided to go poolside and take in some rays. I wandered downstairs and met up with Jess again and we had a great chat exploring everything going on in the world today from how the media handles things to some of life’s lessons. It was great to get some one on one time with Jess and I’m pleased I can now call him a friend. (See you in New York soon!)

After a couple of hours poolside it was time to get ready for another party and this time the group had organised for us to go bowling. Something I hadn’t done in years… of course, I was pretty hopeless at it but I did manage to get a lead over another of my friend’s Mr. Prepared (www.Mr.Prepared.com), Larry Frank in our second game until our time ran out. Now Larry is a bowler…he could get the ball to move and to curve and had obviously had a great deal of experience playing the game . He’s now in for no end of abuse from me now!

And with that our event gradually came to a close. Some of the gang headed on out to a nightclub but I’m too old for that sort of stuff anymore so I headed to bed to reflect on a very busy week.

I didn’t talk much about Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in the previous blog so I thought I’d better mention it as it’s a really big tourist attraction on Hollywood Blvd. It was originally opened in 1927 and it was the most spectacular theatre opening in motion picture history. Thousands of people lined Hollwood Blvd and a riot broke out as fans tried to catch a glimpse of the movie stars and other celebrities as they arrived for the opening.

The film being premiered that night was Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings” which was preceded by “Glories of the Scriptures”… a live prologue devised by master showman Sid Grauman. Authorisation to build the theater and import temple balls, pagodas, stone heaven dogs and other artifacts from China had to be obtained from the U.S. Governement. Poet and film director Moon Quon, who came from China, supervised much of the work as Chinese artisans created many pieces of statuary in the work area that eventually became known as the “Forecourt of the Stars”. Most of these pieces still decorate the ornate interior of the theatre today.

While the theatre has Grauman’s name on it, it is fact that he never owned more than one-third interest in it. His other partners were Howard Schenck, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. In 1929 Grauman actually sold his share to Fox West Coast Theatres but he remained as Managing Director until his death in 1950.

Today, Grauman’s is still the most sought after venue for movie premiere’s and more than four million visitors from all over the world visit the theatre every year.

Well last night I covered part of what I got upto on my first two days in California so this is my update on the crazy long weekend.

After leaving Solvang I made the small journey to Santa Barbara itself. Santa Barbara is sometimes known as the “American Riviera” and is a popular tourist and resort destination. Hotel prices here can be steep and I found myself staying one block from the beach at a quaint little hotel that you’ll be able to see more of when I get my video posted to www.FriendsDontLetFriendsStayInHotels.com  as I continue to carry out my research of hotels throughout the USA.

I enjoyed the day I had in Santa Barbara and it was refreshing to take in the sea breeze and wonderful weather that we were blessed with that day. I also enjoyed a nice evening meal at the Fish House restaurant although it was still rather strange eating out on my own. The worst part was that I had taken a book with me but the restaurant was dimly lit and reading was all but impossible.

So, my exploration of Santa Barbara county was at an end and I made a fairly early start back to Hollywood the following morning. It was time to check in at the Hotel Roosevelt. Now this is a hotel steeped in history. It first opened it’s doors on 15 May 1927 and cost $2.5 million to build. The very first academy awards were held there in 1929 and tickets cost $5 as fewer than 250 people attended to see Emil Jannings pick up best actor, Janet Gaynor best actress and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans best picture.

The hotel has had many famous guests and past residents stay there and it is alleged that both Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift still haunt the place…not that I saw either of them even though the hotel is kept very dark!

After checking in I had some time available before the private party that was being organised for the people attending the America’s Premier Expert’s event so I had a walk around Hollywood and took in Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Blvd (which was still being cleaned up after the Oscars), Kodak Theater and the mall that everything seems to revolve around.

After that, it was back to the Roosevelt for a shower and a change and where the fun and games were to begin…more on that later.

Well I guess I’m still on California time even though I got back home on Monday evening as it’s now late into the evening Florida time as I write this blog. I’ve been meaning to get my report done for a couple of days now but when you spend sometime away your desk tends to get loaded upon your return!

Anyway, I had a great week in California. The purpose of the trip was to go to Hollywood to be interviewed for the America’s Premier Experts TV show but I thought I’d take the opportunity to do a few other things as well.

My first day in California saw me attend the Dr. Phil show…and what a hoot that was as we saw “America’s Cheapest Family” share their tips for surviving on $44K a year! Yeah right…tell that to my wife! Not to mention my daughters!

The Economides family (apparently that’s their real name) gave us tips on avoiding debt, living below your means and embracing a thrifty lifestyle.  We then met a couple called Daniel and Mandy showing us how to go bankrupt by spending wildly beyond their means! It was all fun and games but for me, I was mainly interested in seeing how the show was put together and just how good Dr. Phil was. Have to say, he’s pretty darned good behind the camera…no retakes…just a straight shoot and it’s in the can. It was also nice to walk away with a $200 gas card that every member of the studio audience was given…now that was appreciated…thanks Dr. Phil!

After the show had finished I got away pretty quickly as I wanted to get along to Santa Barbara county and to get a day or two of rest and relaxation in before the crazy weekend that was about to hit me. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I was entering wine country! It was also nice to escape the urban sprawl that is L.A. and to get out into the hills and valleys and see some wonderful scenary. I also took the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful luncheon overlooking the 18th hole at Rancho San Marcos golf course.

After my first night stay in Hollywood it was nice to find a small hotel in a lovely place called Solvang. If you’ve never been then you need to go…it’s basically an old authentic Danish city and is one of the cities that makes up the Santa Ynez valley. The city has several bakeries, restaurants and merchants offering a taste of Denmark and having been there not so long ago on a fabulous cruise it was interesting to see how traditional Solvang actually was. Have to say it was just like being in Denmark, particularly when I visited the small Hans Christian Andersen museum.

That’s about all I have time for tonight …tomorrow I’ll tell you more about the trip.

I’m currently sitting at LAX airport after visiting Los Angeles & Hollywood for a TV interview on America’s Premier Experts (more about that later) and I’m absolutely amazed by how quiet the place is. I got to check in and had no wait, I went through security and there was no-one in line and I’m now sitting waiting for my flight back to Orlando a lot earlier than I imagined I would be.

Previously travel through LAX has been a nightmare…security in particular. I’ve had over an hour waiting in line before now but today was a breeze. I asked one of the screening staff what was going on and he said “it has been like this all year”.

I’ve heard news reports about traffic at airports being down but I didn’t take much notice as every flight I’ve taken this year has been full.

Of course, I always like to look at the bright side. If you want to go on vacation, NOW is the time. If airports are as easy as this to travel through… and LAX is the 5th busiest in the world, then it’s going to be a joy to travel by plane again.